Olusola Bello
s
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has expressed interest to participate in the acquisition of power plants put up for sale by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs).
Mele Kolo Kyari, Managing Director of NNPC was said to have disclosed this when he led the top management team of his company on a courtesy visit to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in Abuja, last weekend.
The NNPC chief executive officer was said to have told the top management of BPE that received him that his company has the requite expertise and experience to be an active participant in the power sector in Nigeria.
According to a source that was privy to the meeting, the NNPC boss told the BPE management that as an oil company and enabler organisation, NNPC was determined to boost power generation and supply to Nigerian homes through increased investment, hence it had signed a contract with China Machinery Engineering Company (CME) and General Electric (GE) to provide 50 megawatts of electricity to Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to him, the management of NNPC was determined to run the organisation efficiently and profitably for the benefit of the shareholders, hence it plans to engage in activities that would generate funds, and for the power sector, “NNPC is a partner of choice”.
He revealed that the organisation was ready to collaborate with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) after the audit of some of its assets for sale and divestment of those assets through the BPE. Mele Kyari added that the planned audit would be carried out by renowned and reputable audit firms.
Alex A. Okoh, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), was said to have promised that the NNPC had indicated interest in the acquisition of some NIPP plants and would be given a level playing ground to compete with other bidders.
Okoh added that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) would be notified of the desire by NNPCL to bid for the NIPP plants.
